The Too-Many-Bowls season kicked off over the weekend with the debut of the world’s largest potato on wheels.

If they could have turned it into 50,000 orders of free french fries, a lot of people still would have turned up their noses. They believe there are way too many Famous Idaho Potato Bowls coming our way.

I say pass the potatoes. What harm do all these bowls do?

None, except give the Too-Many-Bowls crowd needless indigestion. Nobody was holding a potato peeler to anyone’s head forcing them to watch Ohio vs. Utah State on Saturday.

And I bet those who did enjoyed the show. Ohio scored with 13 seconds left to win, 24-23. Following that was the R & L Carriers New Orleans Bowl between Louisiana-Lafayette and San Diego State.

I’ll admit I don’t have a clue what an R & L Carrier is, but I got a little carried away when the Ragin’ Cajuns kicked a 50-yard field goal on the final play to win by 32-30.

Or would you have preferred watching another installment of Texas Hold ’Em on ESPN?

Contrary to rumors, the TicketCity Bowl is not renaming itself the Elephant In the Room Bowl just because Penn State is coming to TicketCity, wherever that is.

It’s easy to make fun of the names, the records and how mediocrity is rewarded. And teams usually go in the hole financing the trips, though they generally make it up long term in shared conference revenue.

So why are people so vexed by the thought of BBVA Compass Bowl?

The Too-Many-Bowls syndrome is founded on the historical notion that all bowls used to be either named the Rose, Sugar, Cotton or Orange. They all mattered in the national-championship hunt and only great teams played in them.

The Oil Bowl was the last postseason classic Louisiana-Lafayette won. It happened six months after D-Day, so you can see why the Ragin’ Cajuns were a little pumped over Saturday night’s win.

“We are all going to share this moment,” quarterback Blaine Gautier said. “It’s something that is going to do down in history.”

It sure beat staying in Lafayette and watching guys in sunglasses and hoodies play poker on ESPN3. Tens of thousands fans not only got a night they’ll always remember, they spent a lot of money in the process.

That’s what the critics don’t get. Bowls aren’t here simply for their TV enjoyment. A primary goal is boost local economies, raise money for charities and give a sense of communal pride.

Go to any website and you’ll see pictures of all sorts of activities and volunteers, including the requisite children’s hospital visits by teams. The kids don’t seem to mind that those big, strapping players play for 6-6 teams.

Remind me again where the harm is in all this?

If nothing else, things like the “Largest Potato on Wheels” give critics something to laugh at. It pulled up outside Bronco Stadium on Saturday in Boise, compliments of the Idaho Potato Commission.

It weighs six tons and would take 10,000 years to grow if it were real. But it was concocted by man, sort of like ESPN Bowl Week. And like all the bowls, it provides a real benefit.

Promoters donated three potatoes to food banks for every fan in the stadium. That added up to an 84,228 spuds.

How do you like them potatoes?

Critics never will. But instead of the annual griping, they should do well to remember their manners.

There’s a lot more to Too-Many-Bowls season than too many bowls. So politely push away from the table and let everybody else enjoy the feast.